Tpub Comics 2019
Written by Neil Gibson & Michael Gordon
Illustrated by Atula Siriwardane
Coloured by Asoka Abeywardena
Flashback Scenes by POW! Entertainment
Touch Up Art by Verity Glass
Lettered by Warren Montgomery
“Stan Lee’s Lucky Man” follows the story of detective Harry Clayton after he is unwillingly granted the power to control luck – for good and bad… This comic is an extension of the hit TV series and explores the origins of the bracelet that gives him this power.
When the first issue of this came out and they had sent it to me asking for a review I read and was instantly drawn to the idea of it. Then I binged the television program which by the way was/is bloody brilliant. After a little hiatus I am glad to see that both Tpub and this book are back in action.
The boys are doing some amazing work here with how we see this being told. The story & plot development and the character development are intertwined beautifully with one another and how the pacing grabbed them and made sure everything was constantly moving forward is nicely done. I like how the flashback is utilised to tie in what we need to know about Harry's current predicament. Everything we see has a purpose in the story and how that is interpreted by the reader is up to the individual. Some will the information and run with it, as in letting their own mind run wild with what they think they know and how it can be practically applied to the story at hand. This kind of engagement is what I live for because that's how you build a fanbase and that's how you tell magnificent stories.
Also it's nice to see Harry building a supporting cast that doesn't involve his place of employment. Not that a lot them respect him and the mess he's made of his life but that's not really the focus here. The way characters have been introduced and how we get back to seeing them throughout is very smartly done. Yes it widens the cast but at the same time it keeps is close knit and we learn more about the mysterious woman who put the bracelet on him and has been trying to guide him without directly interfering because it's against the rules we know nothing about. Keep the mystery alive and hopefully Harry as he struggles to find a way to remove the bracelet and use it's luck without having to think about the bad which follows the good.
Now the present day interiors are absolutely gorgeous! That first panel on the first page with the architecture, the detail all around us in the motorbikes, the trees you name it it's all got this precision about it that the eye doesn't when to start and stop looking. The linework and how the varying weights and techniques are utilised throughout capture the mood, tone and feel beautifully. While by comparison the flashback artwork pales a little by comparison it does bring us some fine work in it's own right and seeing Genghis in this light is well done indeed. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a marvellous eye for storytelling. The way we see backgrounds utilised, in the present, really blows me away as the size and scope to the story they bring and how they enhance the moments is perfectly done. The colour work too is delightfully done. The utilisation of light sources to create shading and shadows, how we see hues and tones in the gradation process is stunning.
This is the kind of book that could easily carry it's own franchise. It has that air of mystery, of a real life James Bond kind of vibe but with normal folks who get “Lucky” instead of using skill. With him being a constable and his brother an art dealer there are endless possibilities for what this book can do story arc wise. This is also the kind of legacy of Stan Lee's that I expect to see. Incredibly well written and illustrated and proving you don't need to be a superspy of superhero to carry a book in this vein.